4G Biometrics and Methodist Richardson Medical Center are among the winners of the Metroplex Technology Business Council’s 2012 Tech Titans awards. UTA’s Dr. Mario Romero-Ortega and UTD’s Robert L. Robb also were among those honored.
OneSource Virtual was named the area’s fastest-growing tech company in North Texas, with a revenue growth of 2874% during the past three years.
The winners were revealed and celebrated at a gala Friday evening held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. It was the 12th annual program for the MTBC, the largest technology trade association in Texas.
“Tech Titans is the premier recognition of innovative technology companies and individuals who contribute to the vibrancy and success of theNorth Texas region,” said Charlie Vogt, president and CEO of GENBAND, and chair of the MTBC’s Tech Titans steering committee, in a statement. “These pioneers are impacting tomorrow’s technology today with their innovation, leadership and advocacy. Their groundbreaking advancements make a difference here and around the globe.”
Below, courtesy of the MTBC, is complete list of 2012 winners. More information on the Tech Titans awards program can be found here.
Corporate CEO
Angel Ruiz, President and CEO, Ericsson North America
Recognizes CEO leadership within the technology and communications industry.
Known for his passion for life, Angel has expanded Ericsson’s presence inNorth Americaand in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Acquisitions of a portion of Nortel’s business and later the negotiation of a historic contract with Sprint has secured Ericsson’s place as a leader in communications technology, mobile and fixed network infrastructure, and telecom services.
Emerging Company CEO
Steven W. White, President andCEO, ImageVision
Recognizes CEO leadership for an emerging company within the technology and communications industry.
Steven White’s career and passion revolve around online security and contextual content delivery. His innovative approach to the control and visibility of online content led to the creation of a visual recognition, image and video filtering technology that has market applications for enterprise, mobile and social networking.
Corporate CTO
John P. Volpi,CTO, Lone Star Aerospace
Recognizes technical leadership, team building, creation and maintenance of a creative environment, and market awareness skills.
Smart phone base station antennas and an offender tracking system were two of his early successes. John Volpi’s work with radio navigation in the days beforeGPShelped turn that technology into the low-cost system for navigation used today. His collaborative work ethic, desire to keep customers’ costs low, and influence on how to use these devices have made him a pioneer in technology.
Corporate Innovation
AT&T Foundry, Plano
Recognizes outstanding innovation and unique accomplishments through recent or potential breakthrough technology or approach within the technology and communications industry.
To inspire innovation on a global scale and be the first to bring the future to its customers, the AT&T Foundry inPlanohas fundamentally changed how it engages third-party innovators working on apps, devices, cloud services and other technologies.
Emerging Company Innovation
4G Biometrics
Recognizes outstanding innovation and unique accomplishments through potential breakthrough technology, processes or services within the technology and communications industry.
Using a technology, medical and social platform, 4G Biometrics gathers real-time clinical information for patients with a critical illness and delivers immediate feedback at less cost to the patient, the insurance plan provider and the healthcare professional.
Technology Inventor
Dr. Mario Romero-Ortega, University of Texas at Arlington
Recognizes a technology advocate/champion for his or her outstanding leadership in assisting, advancing or accelerating the performance of technology companies and/or the technology community.
The quest to change how those who have lost a limb become productive again has been the focal point of research conducted by Dr. Marion Romero-Ortega. His pioneering work on the creation of neural interfaces with prosthetic devices is giving amputees the gift of normal life.
Technology Advocate
Robert L Robb, University of Texas at Dallas Office of Technology Commercialization
Recognizes a technology advocate/champion for his or her outstanding leadership in assisting, advancing or accelerating the performance of technology companies and/or the technology community.
Outreach, education, strategic planning are the key components of the UTD Office of Technology Commercialization built by Robert Robb. He has built an entrepreneurial ecosystem that educates the DFW community, university researchers and students. He has funded, founded, nurtured and/or managed 32 early-stage companies and served as the CEO of seven emerging enterprises in the life sciences and medical tech arenas spanning his career of 28 years.
Investment Catalyst
Tech Wildcatters, Gabriella Draney, Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Recognizes a significant investment transaction occurring since January 2011 that impacts and delivers significant long-term economic prosperity and sustainable economic results for the Metroplex and improves the technology innovation investment climate of the region.
Founded in 2009, Tech Wildcatters is a seed stage incubator that has developed a successful model in its quest to build the early-stage tech community inDallas. Working with highly-motivated young entrepreneurs who have a modest amount of equity capital, Tech Wildcatters provides seed funding, intensive top-notch mentorship, and the opportunity for these young entrepreneurs to pitch their company to angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporate development teams.
Technology Adopter
Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Ken Hutchenrider, CEO
Recognizes a company whose core business is not technology products/services for outstanding adoption and application of innovative technologies to successfully change and impact its business results.
In 2011 theMethodistRichardsonMedicalCentertook the next step toward minimally invasive surgery by adding the robotic daVinci Surgical System to its operating room. The hospital recently added the next generation by upgrading to the daVinci Single Site. This 3-D, high definition vision of the operative field has improved physician efficiency and patient recovery time.
Community Hero
Mike Doherty, Director, Strategic Enterprise Services, Hewlett Packard
Recognizes an individual within the technology industry for his or her outstanding achievements in community involvement.
Mike’s work in the technology industry as a leader of a team supporting HP Enterprise Services cloud sales efforts made him realize that we live in a global community. He has taken his time and talent around the world to help people less fortunate than him. His work in Habitat for Humanity, Big Heart Ministries, and his community made him realize that if just one life was saved, just one life made better, then it was all worth it.
Tech Titan of the Future, University
Net-Centric Software and Systems Industry/University/Research Center, University of NorthTexas, Dr. Krishna Kavi, Director
Recognizes educational institutions that encourage and support students in choosing engineering and technology-related disciplines as a preferred path. This award category spotlights DFW area higher educational institutions’ tech-related curricula and incentives to perpetuate tech-related knowledge transfer.
A joint venture between academic, government and commercial institutions, the Net-Centric Software and Systems IURC has been formed where the university environment can be used to promote collaborative research between industrial and academic partners. The focus is on fundamental research needed for the development and deployment of software and applications into cloud and net-centric environments.
Tech Titan of the Future, High School
Janine Amy, Math Teacher, W.T. White High School, Dallas ISD
Recognizes a high school math or science teacher for the development and implementation of an innovative teaching technique or program that inspires student interest in math and/or science.
Janine has been the chair of the math department at W.T. White for nine years and leads a team of 17 math teachers in addition to teaching a class of her own in geometry. This past year, the school implemented a double block math class to teach Algebra Two and Pre AP Calculus in one year instead of two. She developed the plan and through her leadership the team executed that plan. Math scores increased, retakes of math tests decreased and their students have earned more than $9 million scholarship grants.
Hall of Fame
Dr. Krish Prahbu, CTO of AT&T
Honors a technology visionary for outstanding leadership in assisting, advancing and accelerating the performance of the technology industry and/or adoption of technology in North Texas.
Dr. Krish Prahbu, CTO of AT&T, has had a long and distinguished career in the telecommunications industry and with extensive industry experience in research, corporate leadership and innovation. Additionally, his work with venture capitalists and start-ups provided him with the knowledge and experience needed to make AT&T’s innovation program more agile.
